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Laucala, Laucala Island

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From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

In 1972, Malcolm Forbes bought this luscious green morsel as his private refuge; now its new owner, Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz, has spared no expense to create a spectacular tropical hideaway. The high price tag gets you over-the-top luxury and total privacy in one of 25 unique villasall glamorous versions of traditional Fijian dwellings. Each opens onto its own secluded beachfront and private pool. Inside, you'll find the expected mod cons (Bose sound systems, giant plasma TVs, a personal bar stocked with champagne), and exuberant decorsofas evoke sea shells, light shades are crafted from hundreds of butterfly cocoons, bathtubs are carved from single slabs of granite. It's hard to leaveamuse-bouches materialize throughout the day, and any conceivable meal will be arranged instantlybut Laucala also offers five restaurants, a spa, a stable, and an 18-hole golf course. Go on a mountain bike to explore the seven-mile-long island and Laucala almost feels like an independent nation, with an organic farm, armies of friendly staff, a working jetty, a hangar with mechanics to service private jets, and a James Bondworthy dive boat for trips to fertile reefs.2010 Hot List

Which room to book: Each villa has its own appeal, but the two-bedroom Overwater Residence juts out above the lapping waves.